THE CANADIAN POND- WEED 17 



black, with russet heads and tufted ducks, in simple 

 but effective livery of sable and gleaming white. 

 Fleets of these conducted diving operations in 

 silence ; but now the air is full of the * whewing ' of 

 widgeon, which move in dense restless flocks, swiftly 

 swimming, gobbling, and talking with their mouths 

 full. Usually shyest of all waterfowl, here they 

 have conformed to the habits of the natives, and 

 take wing only just beyond gunshot. Viewed 

 through the glass, their movements are most en- 

 gaging : one longs for one of those Japanese artists 

 deftest of all limners of bird form to fix their 

 changing attitudes and delicate hues. All the duck 

 tribe, when undisturbed, have a comfortable, amiable, 

 contented-with-the-world-as-it-is sort of expression; 

 but widgeon most of all. Then the contrast between 

 a drake widgeon afloat and the same bird on the wing 

 is very fascinating. Afloat, he presents a shapely 

 compact tournure, pearly grey on back and sides, 

 roseate breast, ruddy crest, and fawn-tinted face. 

 He takes wing, and suddenly seems to increase to 

 twice the size, while unsuspected tracts of foamy 

 white become the most conspicuous parts of his 

 plumage. 



